The Peruvian tactician is set to return to the Bucs development academy in the near future as the club is expected to appoint a permanent head coach.

“The coach coming here mustn’t fear there is someone who wants to take his job,” Palacios told IOL.co.za.

“(I don’t want his job). People shouldn’t think when I hear news that someone else is coming to coach the team it affects me. It doesn’t. The most important thing for me, in the 22 years I spent at Pirates, is to see the team succeed," he added.

"The new coach must be confident in his abilities and the technical team. He mustn’t come here to change things in the technical team or say he will change this system, this culture and this style of play."

"No! Pirates is one and has its own identity. Anyone who comes to Pirates mustn’t change the system but adapt to the system he will find here. He must understand that this isn’t a small club. This is a big club,” Palacios said.

Palacios is adamant the masses will see a different Pirates when the league resumes with their key players like Oupa Manyisa and Mpho Makola back to full fitness.

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“The players who struggled with form before the end of the year are back to their best,” Palacios said.

“Oupa Manyisa and Mpho Makola are back. I can guarantee you, when the league starts, no matter who the coach is, people will see a different Pirates,” Palacios concluded.

Bucs will resume duties away to Platinum Stars in a PSL clash on February 8 at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.